A commitment by Morrisons to make more of the food it sells than any of its competitors is set to create 50 jobs in Bradford next year.

Morrisons has invested more than £31 million over the past 18 months in its Farmers Boy site at Dudley Hill alone, bringing a new pie preparation room, improvements to existing factory equipment and 150 new jobs.

Work on a new quiche line is continuing and the £6.5 million development is expected to bring 50 new jobs to the site when it is completed in the new year. Morrisons said its focus on producing more food had made it the second biggest fresh food manufacturer in the UK.

Business Secretary Vince Cable visited the Farmers Boy site to see the company’s investment in the future of its manufacturing operation.

On top of the financial commitment made at Farmers Boy, Morrisons has taken on more than 250 apprentices in its manufacturing operation this year and Dr Cable met some of the 49 apprentices at Farmers Boy during his tour. Dr Cable said: “The manufacturing sector is vital to building a stronger economy – supporting 2.5 million jobs and contributing almost £140 billion a year to the UK.

“As this week's Manufacturing Advisory Service Barometer figures show, more British manufacturers are starting to see an increase in orders.”

Morrisons has its own meat, produce, fish, bread and flower factories among its 17 sites across the UK – which the retailer said gives it unrivalled control of the quality of the products sold in its stores.

Morrisons chief executive Dalton Phillips, who showed the Business Secretary around the Farmers Boy operation, said: “As a Yorkshire company we’re proud to be investing £30 million in one of our fresh food facilities in Bradford.

“And it’s not just buildings and equipment that we’re investing in but also training some 50 skilled apprentices at our Farmers Boy site alone.”